Stability? Longevity?

Steve Lowder sought the superintendent position of Stockton Unified Schools and didn't get it. He sought it again and didn't get it. The persistence continued and, in April 2012, by a 4-3 vote, Lowder was named head of the district.

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Posted May. 16, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Posted May. 16, 2014 at 12:01 AM

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Steve Lowder sought the superintendent position of Stockton Unified Schools and didn't get it. He sought it again and didn't get it. The persistence continued and, in April 2012, by a 4-3 vote, Lowder was named head of the district.

Two years later, he's resigning.

Turnover happens and it must be dealt with. That's the case for school superintendents, police chiefs and, yes, journalists in Stockton.

Lowder didn't sign up for life when he returned to Stockton. He had been superintendent of Lincoln Unified before departing to lead Hemet's schools. He pledged to move SUSD forward and, in many ways, has done just that.

But don't expect a regal sendoff or ticker-tape parade for Lowder in August.

The abrupt resignation, not long after a hand-picked No. 2 didn't work out and with lawsuits piling up against the district, seems more than a bit disingenuous given what transpired in January 2013.

It was then that Lowder sought - demanded, really - a contract extension and a $5,000 raise so that he would make the same amount that longtime, loyal SUSD administrator Carl Toliver received when he came out of retirement to lead the district before Lowder's hiring.

The extension demand, about a year into his tenure, rubbed many the wrong way. The $5,000 bump to match Toliver's salary came off as downright petty to many inside and outside SUSD. And here were Lowder's words after both of those were granted by trustees:

"From my perspective, it's about projecting stability and longevity of leadership. To me, it's really important. This is the foundation piece. This is so important. If we're in flux, worried if that person is going to be here, you don't know if you should buy into some of those initiatives."

Yes, he used those two words.

Stability. Longevity.

He did not use two other words.

Truncated. Short.

Lowder's resignation letter stresses that student achievement can continue to move forward with the "right people in place." That remains to be seen because who knows if a new superintendent will keep those "right people?"

He also, correctly, states that the fiscal health of the district has improved. How much of that is because of his leadership and how much is due to an improved economy and better state funding is uncertain.

Retirement decisions are intensely personal and can be made for many reasons. Lowder has to understand that many will doubt his original intentions in Stockton and pooh-pooh the "daughter's wedding planning" reason cited in the resignation letter.

One trustee was vocal at the time of Lowder's hiring, stating that he was simply trying to increase his salary so that his pension would grow. That trustee, David Varela, predicted - correctly - that Lowder's tenure would be short.

SUSD, which only had three superintendents from 1987 through 2006 (Mary Gonzales Mend, Gary McHenry and George Ridler) will be looking for its sixth leader since George Ridler left in 2006.

For the students who are the prime focus, the parents who care about education, the teachers who are in heated contract negotiations and for all SUSD stakeholders, the next hire has to be a dynamic leader, committed to Stockton, who also can exhibit those two stated crucial traits.